Britain’s fraud office questions Petrofac bosses over Unaoil

Oilfield services provider Petrofac Ltd (PFC.L) said on Friday that its chief executive and chief operating officer have been questioned by Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in connection with the ongoing investigation into Monaco-based Unaoil.

Petrofac shares fell nearly 13 percent on the news as the SFO confirmed, later on Friday, that it had launched an investigation into the activities of Petrofac and its subsidiaries, their officers, employees and agents for suspected bribery, corruption and money laundering.

Petrofac CEO Ayman Asfari and COO Marwan Chedidhave were questioned under caution by the SFO, the company said in a statement, adding that it was cooperating with authorities.

The SFO last year launched a criminal investigation into oil and gas services firm Unaoil, its officers, employees and agents in connection with suspected bribery, corruption and money laundering in the global oil industry.